Accused Fresno kidnapper appears in court, pleads not guilty despite partial admission

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The antheral accused of kidnapping a 3-year-old lad during a carjacking successful downtown Fresno past week appeared successful a Fresno County Courtroom connected Thursday.

Ventura Francisco Torres Romero utilized his nationalist defender to participate not-guilty pleas to Judge John Vogt.

"Sir, I americium going to name counsel to correspond you," Judge John Vogt said. "We entered pleas of not blameworthy (and) denials of immoderate enhancements."

Investigators accidental Romero jumped successful an SUV adjacent Mariposa and Fulton streets past Friday. A three-year-old lad was inside, near unsocial arsenic his begetter concisely stepped retired to prime up dinner.

Police considered utilizing spike strips arsenic they chased Romero connected a engaged Highway 99 and Belmont Avenue.

"Vehicle is retired of power close now," a dispatcher said implicit constabulary radios. "Still going westbound. Approaching Grantland."

Romero's broad not-guilty plea comes arsenic investigators archer Action News that Romero already confessed to parts of the crime.

"He did admit to our officers that helium stole the vehicle, but helium stated that helium did not cognize determination was a kid wrong until the officers stopped him," Fresno Police Department Sergeant Diana Trueba Vega said Monday.

She confirms the boy's begetter shouted that his kid was wrong arsenic helium tried to halt the carjacking. It is captious grounds that Action News Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi says a assemblage indispensable cautiously consider.

"The question becomes, 'Were the doors open? Were the windows open? Did helium perceive it?'" Capozzi said. "That's going to beryllium an contented for a assemblage to marque a determination on."

Romero besides faces unrelated battle and artillery charges from a September incidental arsenic helium present fights the carjacking, kidnapping, and battle charges from December.

He remains astatine the Fresno County Jail connected a $315,000 bail.

"We'll acceptable the substance for a pre-preliminary proceeding connected Monday, January 6," Judge Vogt said.

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